Easter Seals treatment center fire in Manchester believed to have been set

Staff report

MANCHESTER — A treatment facility operated by Easter Seals was evacuated Saturday night after a patient allegedly set fire to a mattress.

Manchester Fire District Chief Michael Gamache said fire crews were called to the Easter Seals neurobehavioral residential/educational treatment program at 199 Zachary Road at 8:37 p.m. Saturday after a mattress was set on fire allegedly by a juvenile female resident. Manchester fire officials said they have identified the juvenile, but did not release her name Sunday.

District Chief Gamache said the burning mattress caused an estimated $2,000 in damage to a dorm room and filled a residential wing with smoke. The entire population of the treatment facility was evacuated for approximately 45 minutes.

Gamache said the fire was under control at 8:50 p.m., and fire crews departed the scene by 9:15 p.m. There were no injuries reported.

Easter Seals operates a neurobehavioral residential/educational treatment program at the facility, designed for males and females ages 8 to 21 with pervasive developmental disorders, nonverbal learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries and other neurological disorders.